[Sports-Head]

Tonight in sports, the Tech women look for win number two in the NCAA tournament, and the search for a new head basketball at UVa is underway.
We'll hear from a local member of the Virginia Student Aid Foundation,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT eng#]

and hear from athletic director Terry Holland, who says he tried to get Jeff to step down last summer.
(-------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

A cold mix of rain. sleet and some snow around the region later tonight. The latest radar pictures are coming up.
[open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Jean1;]
[SUPER=@Mike1;]
[SUPER=@Robin1;]
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[VMI]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#98-19]
[GRAPHIC=VMI]

They're free--as free as cadets at Virginia Military Institute can be. The men and women of the Class of 2001 today broke free from the rat line.
[Double Boxes=Jean and Keith/StarLink]

[XGR]

It's a stare-down with NO end clearly in sight.
The 1998 General Assembly is about to break its record for the longest session ever.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith/Ellen via State Microwave]

Ellen Qualls is at the State Capitol.
What's the holdup?
[LIVE=Ellen full]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Well, there's an agreement in principle to cut the car tax pretty much as Governor Gilmore promised AND to fund about 110-million dollars in local school construction and repair needs.
But exactly how that money would be doled out is the latest of many sticking points we've witnessed in the ten days budget negotiators have been working on this deal.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Until the last]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Sunday; :00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Today; :15]
[SUPER=07-Rev. George Williams; :19]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Henry Maxwell/(D) Newport News; :25]
[SUPER=01-Del. Tom Moss/(D) Norfolk; :31]
[SUPER=@Bennett; :37]
[SUPER=@Trumbo; :48]
[RUNS=1:04]
[OUT Q=come back.]
((
[SOT LONNIE 23:29:32]
((SEN. RUSS POTTS: UNTIL THE LAST DOG DIES, I'M PREPARED TO STAY HERE. AND THAT CAR TAX GOES WITH IT.))
[RUNS=:06]

[SOT LONNIE 23:55:40]
((DEL. TOM MOSS: IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THE BUSINESS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, JUST LEAVE THE CHAMBER.))
[RUNS=:08]

That was very early Sunday morning-- and since then little's changed.
Except the prayers are becoming more specific.
[sot ROXANE 14:08:00]
((REV. GEORGE WILLIAMS: LONG DAYS AND NIGHTS. CONFUSED MINDS, TIRED BODIES, TRUST AND WORD-KEEPING DIFFICULTIES.))
[runs=:07]

[sot DAY 62 03:59]
((DEL. TOM MOSS/D-NORFOLK: BUT WE'RE SO CLOSE. AND THIS IS WHY I ...WITHOUT A BUDGET.))
[runs=:05]

[sot DAY 62 07:26]
((DEL. TED BENNETT/D-HALIFAX CO.: WE'VE COME SO FAR AND TO HAVE THE SENATE FUNDAMENTALLY TRY TO NICKEL-DIME SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA IS VERY VERY DISAPPOINTING.))
[runs=:10]

[DAY 62 58:32]
((SEN. BO TRUMBO: SO IF YOU NOTICE...DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SIT HERE AND TAKE.))
[RUNS=:17]))

[LIVE=Ellen full]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

So we are wrapping up day 62 now of the 60-day even year long session.
Day 63 will set the record.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Ellen/Keith]

Even if a budget agreement is reached tonight - it will take 36 hours to print a budget for lawmakers to vote on.

They've sent home their staffs and have given up their daily expense checks since Saturday to blunt some voter criticism.

[Boty-Bus]

A battle between parents and a Botetourt County bus driver ended up in court today.
It apparently began when school bus driver Mary Sue Lester got into an argument with a student over assigned seats last month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fincastle]

The student, 13 year old Jennifer Martin says Lester pushed her down, but Lester has charged Martin with assaulting HER.
During the confrontation, Jennifer's mother, Wosum (WHOA-sum) Martin got on the bus to take her two daughters off.
The bus driver charged her with disorderly conduct.
And last week Lester charged Dewayne Long with stalking. Long's daughter rides the bus and is a witness in the case.

DeWayne Long allegedly followed the bus for several miles after it picked up his daughter.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 6:33:17]
[IN Q=it sort of]
((RONNIE CLAY/ASSISTANT COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY; IT SORT OF SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL FROM AN INNOCENT AND WELL MEANING ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE ONE THE BUS WAS UNDER CONTROL AND STAYED OUT OF TROUBLE.))
[SUPER=01-Ronnie Clay/Assistant Commonwealth's Atty.]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=out of trouble]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The parents say the bus driver is out of control. Wosum (WHOA-sum) Martin's disordly conduct trial ended today after she agreed to stay 50 feet away from the bus for the rest of the year.
The remaining cases go before a judge tomorrow.
(------------)

Fortunately for Harry Harold, the number of peaches thriving in the family's Patrick County orchard, far outweigh the number recently lost.
Unlike his southern neighbors, most of Harold's peaches had NOT begun to bloom, when last week's hard freeze, struck.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Yeah, yeah]
((HARRY HAROLD/PATRICK CO. FARMER: YEAH, YEAH, WE'RE PRETTY LUCK, WE COUNT OUR BLESSINGS ON THIS AND THANK THE GOOD LORD. ))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=good lord.]

Extension agents agree--
If last week's freezing temperatures had hit, as little as three days later, the damage to peach orchards in Carroll and Patrick counties, would've been far more severe.
(/////SOT/////)
[10:37:45]
[SOT]
[IN Q=We didn't ]
((GARY LARROWE/VA EXTENSION AGENT:WE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPOSURE OF THE BLOOMS, AS MUCH AS THEY DID DOWN SOUTH, SOME OF THE ORCHARDS IN THE SAND HILLS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND ON INTO GEORGIA, THEY WERE IN FULL BLOOM. ))
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=in full bloom. ]

[TAKE SU--]
The Harold's plum crop did NOT fare quite as well-- unlike the peaches-- the plums had already begun to bloom.
[END SU]
Still the Harold's are counting their blessings--
Like many other fruit farmers in Carroll and Patrick counties-- they also grow apples and cherries-- which continue to thrive.
Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Patrick County.
))
[Tease#1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[SS=NONE]

Abortion protests continue in the Hill City. We'll have that story when we return.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
and some members of a Roanoke neighborhood says thanks, but no thanks as the N-Double-A-C-P gets involved with a controversial land deal.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Robin]
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[Southern-Hills]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#98-5]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

The Roanoke N-double-A-C-P says it will NOT let a white developer bulldoze a black neighborhood -- even though most of the landowners say they don't need protection.
[Double Boxes=Jean/Tina Newsroom]

Tina Tenret brings us both sides.
[Live= Tina Full]
[SUPER=@Tina1;]

Jean, the proposed development would convert ten lots into four restaurants and a hotel.
And while some call this an issue of black versus white, others say it's about the color of money.
(Rollcue: color of money)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Drive through Southern Hills]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ted Beckner/Property Owner; :16]
[SUPER=01-Diane Howard/Property Owner; :53]
[SUPER=01-Billy Graveley/Property Owner; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=do it by myself]
(( Drive through the Southern Hills neighborhood and you'll notice several things.
Crumbling houses. Ditches and drainage problems. Rusty fences dividing a gas station and homes.
Residents say the city has done nothing to help them -- so most are eager to sell.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:32:26]
[IN Q=I'VE BEEN HERE]
((TED BECKNER/PROPERTY OWNER: I'VE BEEN AROUND HERE ALL MY LIFE -- 65 YEARS. YOU'VE LOOKED AT THIS SORE EYE FOR 45 YEARS AND IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE. IT'S TIME FOR THE FENCES TO GO DOWN -- THAT'S WHAT I SAY. AND THAT'S WHY I SAY IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.))
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY]

Ted Beckner's house is the only one NOT under contract with the developer -- that's because his three sisters are holding out for more cash.
The developer has offered 115-thousand-dollars, more than ten times its tax value.
But the sisters say that's still not enough for their family home.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:15:10]
[IN Q=I said mister]
((DIANE HOWARD/PROPERTY OWNER: I SAID MISTER IF YOU OFFER ME A MILLION DOLLARS RIGHT NOW I SAY NO. BECAUSE I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO BUY. IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND ABOUT SELLING OUR PROPERTY OKAY?))
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=OKAY?]

The N-double-A-C-P says a white developer is cheating black property-owners, paying them peanuts then building for a profit.
But many of the landowners say the NAACP is coming between them and their money.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:44:42]
[IN Q=NAACP not giving me]
((BILLY GRAVELEY/PROPERTY OWNER: NAACP NOT GIVING ME ANYTHING. NOW WHAT HAVE THEY COME OUT HERE AND DONE FOR ME? I GOT A MOTHER IN THERE, 90 YEARS OLD AND WALKING ON CRUTCHES. I DON'T ASK NOBODY FOR NO HELP. I DO IT BY MYSELF.))
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=by myself]))
[Live= Tina Full]

The city council is holding a public hearing tonight at 7 pm to decide whether to rezone these ten lots as commercial.
City officials have said they could use revenue from the proposed businesses to spruce up the rest of the neighborhood -- with curbs, for example.
[Double Boxes=Jean/Tina]

[Abortion-Protest]

Anti-abortion protesters continue to keep up the pressure on Lynchburg school and law enforcement authorities.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Supporters of jailed Operation Rescue director Flip Benham held more rallies today across the Hill City, including one at E-C Glass high school.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 9:31:18]
[IN Q=We are like]
((REV. RUSTY THOMAS/OPERATION RESCUE: WE ARE LIKE THE ALIEN INVADERS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. IT'S UNFORTUNATE BUT THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN FRAMED, THESE KIDS VIEW US AS THE ENEMY. Reporter: Why do you think that is? WELL, THE WAY THE SPIN ON THE STORY HAS PROGRESSED, WE'VE LOST THE FOCUS, WE'VE LOST THE VISION OF WHAT ALL THIS IS ABOUT.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Rusty Thomas/Operation Rescue; :00]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=this is about.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Thomas says their REAL message is about bringing God back into the schools.
They plan more rallies all this week, outside other Lynchburg school buildings.
(----------------)

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=sly]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

The Stock market surged to a record close today.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE ] The Dow rose more than 116 points to close just below 87-hundred 19.
Nasdaq set a record of its own, climbing 16 and a half points to close at 17-hundred 88.
[RUNS=:25]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-x/116.33/8718.85/x/16.52/1788.18;]

[Boucher]

A new report says greater regional cooperation is essential for southwest Virginia to grow and prosper in the 21st century.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

Ninth District congressman Rick Boucher established a commission in 1995 to study the future of the region.
Today, he released a report that includes more than 60 proposals on education, economic development, technology, transportation, and the environment.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There will be many concerns]
((REP. RICK BOUCHER/D- NINTH DISTRICT: THERE WILL BE MANY CONCERNS IN SOME PARTS OF THE DISTRICT THAT ARE NOT SHARED IN OTHERS, BUT WHAT WE HAVE SOUGHT TO DO IS IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE COMMON CONCERNS, SO THAT FOR EXAMPLE WE CAN LINK TOGETHER IN COMMON PURPOSE ALL OF THE STATE LEGISLATORS WHO REPRESENT SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=@Boucher]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=southwest Virginia.]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Among the proposals are a regional summit on tourism, and regular meetings of local elected officials.
Boucher says he will also meet with the Chambers of Commerce, and community college presidents to insure the report doesn't gather dust.

[Sports Tease]

Coming up tonight in sports, an area sportsman has a new book and his eye on Hollywood, the women's NCAA tournament continues tonight as Tech takes the court,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT eng#]

And Jeff Jones has resigned from UVa as head basketball coach.
We'll talk with Terry Holland and a prominent member in the Virginia Student Aid Foundation about what has transpired at the University in past 24 hours.
(-------------)

[S-Jones]

Late last night Virginia head basketball coach Jeff Jones handed in his resignation and walked away with from his high profile job with a cash settlement of $600 thousand dollars.
Today the man who recruited him, coached him, and nurtured him, talked about why it was necessary to fire him.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=01-Terry Holland/UVa Athletic Director; :00]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :13]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=...IN MANY AREAS."]
(-------------)
((TERRY HOLLAND/UVA ATHLETIC DIRECTOR:))
(( This past season's on court performance contributed to Jeff's departure, but his off the court problems were just as detrimental. Jeff's much talked about split with his wife Lisa was unfortunate. But the domestic problems of his star player Courtney Alexander are what really helped bring about his demise.
Alexander assaulted his girlfriend last July. He was suspended from the team and eventually transferred. Holland tried to get Jones to do the same thing.
((TERRY HOLLAND:))
Holland gave him that chance, but with basically a two player team, Jones' didn't have a prayer of making the postseason this year. At 37 Jones hopefully will get another chance to be a head coach at the Division One level.
As for Holland he has no interest in getting back into coaching, and says he plans to find a young replacement for Jones.))
((TERRY HOLLAND:))

[S-VSAF]

Ironically, the Virginia basketball media guide for this past season was titled "Keeping a Good Thing Going."
While that theme didn't exactly work out, UVa fans and alumni across the state are anxiously awaiting the naming of a new coach who can do some much needed recruiting.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:04:27]
[IN Q=THEY NEED A]
((TOM DUNKENBERGER/UVA STUDENT AIDE DISTRICT REP: THEY NEED A PROVEN COACH WHO'S WON AT THE DIVISION ONE LEVEL. THEY NEED A HEAD COACH WHO HAS COME FROM A SCHOOL THAT HAS ABOVE AVERAGE ACADEMIC STANDARDS BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY TO RECRUIT THAT CALIBER ANYWHERE AND SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN FREE OF ANY NCAA PROBLEMS.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Dunkenberger/VSAF Dist. Rep.;]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=ANY NCAA PROBLEMS]
(----------------)

[S-Tech]

From 'The it's the small world department,' Dunkenberger's sister, Beth, was an assistant at Virginia Tech and is now on the coaching staff at the University of Florida.
Florida is Tech's opponent in the second round of the Women's N-C-Double-A Tournament.
We'll have highlights of that game tonight at 11.

[S-UVA]

The University of Virginia's string of 11 straight visits to the sweet 16 is over.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tucson, AZ/ESPN;]

The Lady Cavaliers were mangled by the Arizona Wildcats last night.
Lisa Hosac scored a career high 29, two of them right here and pulled down 8 rebounds on the night.
6-10 Elena Kravchenko drives to the hoop and puts in two for U-V-A, but the Cavaliers missed Renee Robinson, who sat out much of the first half in foul trouble.
[SUPER=33/Arizona/94/Virginia/77/;]

And breaks like this one wore down the Cavs.
Arizona moves on 94-to-77.
(----------------)

[S-Lazzaro]

The Carolina League may soon be on a big screen near you.
"Bull Durham" was a big hit for movie makers, and now producers have bought the rights to a book written by former Salem Avalanche General Manager Sam Lazzaro.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

Lazzaro says "More Than a Ball Game--An Inside Look at Minor League Baseball" is more of a people book than one of balls and strikes.
He say readers will learn baseball is not all fun and games.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:03:28]
[IN Q=IT CERTAINLY HELPS]
((SAM LAZZARO/AUTHOR: "MORE THAN A BALL GAME:" IT CERTAINLY HELPS TO ENJOY BASEBALL IF YOU WANT TO WORK IN BASEBALL, BUT WHAT I TOLD THEM IS IF YOU WANT TO WATCH GAMES, SAVE YOURSELF A LOT OF HASSLES AND BUY A SEASON TICKET BECAUSE RARELY DO PEOPLE WHO WORK IN BASEBALL GET TO WATCH A BASEBALL GAME.))
[SUPER=01-Sam Lazzaro/"More Than a Ball Game" Author; :00]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=A BASEBALL GAME]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT con't]

Tri-Laurel Productions in California, is planning the movie, but before you hit Sam up for a loan, he only gets paid if the picture is made, and he'll get at least a quarter of a million dollars.
(-------------)